EAST LANSING — There are seven freshmen who enrolled early at Michigan State to get a jumpstart on their college football careers.

Two of them, Kalon Gervin and Xavier Henderson, are making an immediate impact. And they are getting a lot of love from the teammates they will be competing with for playing time this fall.

“Coach emphasizes just making plays,” junior cornerback Justin Layne said of the duo. “If they’re making plays, they’ll get on the field. Coach (Mark Dantonio) likes playing younger guys because he likes trying out new things. … They can get on the field. Coach D will find a way.”

Henderson, a 6-1, 194-pound safety from Pickerington, Ohio, has senior Khari Willis and junior David Dowell in front of him, also returning starters, along with returning veterans such as senior Matt Morrissey and sophomore Dominique Long.

However, both coach Mark Dantonio and new defensive backs coach Paul Haynes like what they have seen from the early arrivals.

“Kalon Gervin from Cass (Tech) has been doing awesome,” Haynes said Tuesday. “When you look at him and Xavier Henderson that are here and still should be in high school, I mean, we’re throwing them in the fire going against guys like Felton (Davis) and everything. It’s fun to watch.”

Dantonio gushed about Gervin last seek, saying “No. 18 shows up” when you watch him on the field and on film. The 12th-year head coach, a defensive backs guru, likes Gervin’s insticts and his ability to tackle and play on the edge of MSU’s defense.

Gervin said he was somewhat overwhelmed “from Day 1” but has eased into the transition to college life on and off the field.

“I’m playing a lot faster now, though,” said Gervin, a 4-star recruit. “Day 1, I was kind of confused and my mind was everywhere, just trying to pick up the playbook. But I think my coaches tell me there’s a big difference from Day 1. So now, as a player, I feel I’m getting better.”

Henderson said the praise he is hearing from coaches has helped him know he made the right decision.

“The whole recruiting process, coach D always says, ‘We don’t recruit you so you can sit on the bench,’” said Henderson, also a 4-star prospect in high school. “Now that I’m actually here and I’m trying to show what I have, it means a lot that they can see a little bit of ability in me. I can see they’re all coaching me, they’re not being soft on me. I’m here, I gotta kind of have to be thrown in the fire.”

Both Scott and Layne said the two rookies have been doing a good job of learning from the veterans in the defensive backs room and watching extra film with them.

“Man, I see a lot. I know they could for sure right away contribute,” Layne said. “Xavier, he’s gonna be a guy this year — I mean, I’m impressed with him already. He’s only been practicing for us for three weeks. His IQ is like as if he’s been here for two years.”

A year ago, it was Scott who enrolled early and came out of spring ball with a surprise starting job at cornerback. The additional talent this year, he believes, will help the Spartans be a better secondary.

And he thinks both Gervin and Henderson will get their shot.

“If you’re hungry enough,” Scott said, “I feel like you’ll be able to get on the field regardless of all the talent we have. We have a bunch of guys who can play, a lot of guys who can start.”